isolation: a lack of contact between persons, groups or whole societies

When you work the absurd hours that I work, isolation is all part of the game. You get used to not seeing or interacting with other people. You grow accustomed to your lack of social life. But there's one thing you don't ever embrace.

That feeling of 'out-of-sight, out-of-mind'.

Normally that's not something I have to deal with. My coworkers are good about sending me emails, leaving me notes on my desk/computer, calling or texting me, writing on my facebook wall and even staying a little late just to say hello once in awhile.

Anytime people bring goodies, a.k.a candy, to share with everyone, there's always some left for me either in my mailbox or on my desk. Even though I'm the red-headed stepchild of the newsroom, I'm not left out of things. Or at least I haven't ever felt left out.

Until recently.

We have a new general manager, and he's been trying to... how can I say this nicely? Win everyone over. Not that it's necessarily a bad thing. I just don't agree with his methods.

On two occasions, he's bought flowers for all the ladies. Wait, that's not accurate. He's bought flowers for all the ladies who work in the newsroom during the day.

That excludes me and the morning/noon weathergirl. And I guess my feelings shouldn't be hurt by his omission. I understand that I'm the one person who's easy to forget about at this station. Like I said earlier, out-of-sight and out-of-mind.

But it would be nice to feel appreciated now and again. Or maybe I should say that it'd be nice to be remembered. I may not be a part of the group, but I am part of the group.

I realize that this probably comes off sounding like a pity party, but let me assure you that it's anything but. Sure, it sucks that my highest-ranked boss seems to not know I exist, but this is more a statement against the whole act of someone trying to buy my or my coworkers' approval.

Respect is something that should be earned. Getting flowers and chocolates is nice, but the gifts you receive shouldn't be what you base your professional opinion of someone on. And the person in charge should be savvy enough to know that their actual performance will go much farther than material gifts.

And not including everyone in your gift-giving simply because you don't see them on a daily basis isn't professional.